State Street Scoop
Issue 2 - September 15th
Principal's Corner
Dear Families,
THANK YOU for a smooth transition into the 23-24 school year! Our Kindergarten SHARK!s are a wonderful addition to our family. Students in all grades are reviewing our SHARK! expectations to set them up for a successful year. While it is the responsibility of educators to teach students to achieve academically, it is also necessary for us to address the social and emotional needs of our students at the same time.
At State Street, we recognize that we must address the social and emotional needs with the same commitment and emphasis on practices as we do academically. Staff has been trained in the PBIS (Positive Behavior Intervention and Support) approach in promoting social and emotional learning. This approach fosters safe, challenging, and effective classrooms and schools. It was developed by classroom teachers and consists of practical strategies for bringing together social and academic learning throughout the day. The underlying belief of the PBIS model is that it is important to know children individually, culturally, and developmentally. When this occurs, teachers can make better decisions about curriculum, classroom management, and discipline that allow children to reach their academic potential. Additionally, PBIS fosters the belief that academic learning happens best within a positive social context and therefore, much attention is paid to helping children develop positive social skills.
We are the SSS SHARK!’s: Safe, Honest, Assertive, Responsible, Kind and ! Perseverance. Students are recognized by any adult in the building for showing these qualities. Students earn a SHARK! card which they place in a jar for a prize drawing. Students who earn four SHARK! cards in one area, for example being Responsible, earn a Spirit Stick. The goal is that every student will earn at least one Spirit Stick and strive to earn all 6. Students who earn 6 SHARK! Spirit Sticks get their picture on the lobby TV as well as an email of the photo home to the family.
Each week I hope to share more with you about all of the amazing things happening including our EL Education Curriculum supporting our readers and writers and as you may know, this year we are entering our third, and final year, of the implementation of the high quality math curriculum, Bridges, with Kindergarten, Grade 1, and Grade 2. Research supports the importance of teacher professional development as having a significant impact on student achievement. Approximately once a month, Kindergarten, Grade 1 and Grade 2 teachers will be participating in professional learning during the school day and your child will have a substitute. As always, teachers will leave plans that support and continue to move the learning forward at each grade level. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me.
Thank you for your support and I am excited to share in this journey of learning with you.
Audrey Faubert, Principal
From the Desk of the Parent Liaison
What Is Hispanic Heritage Month and Why Is It Celebrated?
It's a national celebration to honor the history, culture and influence of past generations that came from Spain, Mexico, the Caribbean and Central and South America
By Cristina Corujo • Published September 15, 2022 • Updated on September 15, 2022 at 1:25 pm
What is Hispanic Heritage Month?
It's a national celebration to honor the history, culture and influence of past generations who came from Spain, Mexico, the Caribbean and Central and South America. The observance started in 1968 under President Lyndon Johnson's administration as a one-week celebration called Hispanic Heritage Week. Years later, President Ronald Reagan proposed extending this celebration into a month-long event. It was enacted into law on Aug. 17, 1988, officially designating the 30-day period starting on Sept. 15 to Oct. 15 as National Hispanic Heritage Month.
Why Does Hispanic Heritage Month begin on Sept. 15?
Hispanic Heritage Month is celebrated from Sept. 15 to Oct. 15. The celebration starts mid-month because Sept. 15 marks the independence anniversary of five countries: Costa Rica, Nicaragua, El Salvador, Honduras and Guatemala. It is followed by Mexico's Independence Day on Sept. 16 and Chile's on Sept. 18. Another important date that falls within this 30-day period is Día de la Raza, or Columbus Day, which is celebrated on Oct. 12.
What does Hispanic mean?
While many people use Latino(a) and Hispanic interchangeably these two words mean different things. A Hispanic person is someone who comes from, or is a descendant of a Spanish-speaking country. Latino(a) is used when referring to someone who comes from Latin America, or is a descendant from any Latin American country.
A person can be both Hispanic and Latino(a), but not all Latinos are Hispanic. Brazilians, for example, are Latinos, but their native language is not Spanish. Conversely, not all Hispanics are Latino(a). Spaniards are considered Hispanic, but not Latinos, since they are part of the European Union.
Hispanic countries are: Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Equatorial Guinea, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Puerto Rico, Spain, Uruguay, and Venezuela.
Latin American countries are: Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, French Guiana, Guadaloupe, Guatemala, Haiti, Honduras, Martinique, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Puerto Rico, Saint Barthélemy, Saint Martin, Uruguay, and Venezuela.
How to celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month?
People use this celebration to show the importance of Hispanics in the U.S. by donating to Hispanic charities, eating food from any of the countries that are being celebrated, learning from their cultures and honoring influential Hispanics who have made an impact on society.
State Street School Calendar - September 23
Westerly Public Schools Calendar 2024
Background Check Paperwork 2024
September Breakfast/Lunch Menu
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